Accentuating Education

Last week, Marion Orr visited Loyola and delivered a compelling lecture regarding the public school system here in Baltimore. Living outside of Philadelphia and well as Camden, New Jersey, it was not news to me that inner city schools have an innumerable amount of problems. I also came from a public school in the suburbs, yet it is astonishing to me personally to know that neighboring communities refuse to pay or help aid the education of the future generation.

Poverty and social trends plague the Baltimore public school system and the Baltimore community. It was astonishing to hear that 100% of students in some public schools in Baltimore are living in poverty. It was also mentioned that in 2005, 30% of families living in Baltimore were impoverished. Between the 1950s and the 1980s, there was a serious change in the demography in Baltimore. There was a significant increase in the African American population. This increase in diversity caused a “White Flight” in 1970. Today there are 500,000 less Caucasian Americans living in Baltimore than in the 1950.

Aside from these social issues, employment within the public school system has been on the decline. More that ½ of the teachers in Baltimore public schools are not qualified. This lack of qualification led to only 9% of the African Americans within the public school system to go on and receive a college diploma. Also, there has been a decrease in city standardized testing scores. The number of students who drop out of school is on the rise.

Orr, unlike David Simon, did offer some hope to this disheveled school system. The environment of the school, as well as Baltimore needs to be changed. The schools need to hire a qualified staff, help needy families, and keep their promises to change. The school system needs to remember that they are a source of knowledge and to keep a promise to children in terms of fulfilling learning. Also, people on the outside of the problem need to view the public schools as an “investment” not a “charity”. This, personally, was the extremely important. Orr was not calling for pity, but to invest time to help treat the situation. Feeling sorry will only propel the problem.

Student members that were in attendance last week, including myself, should realize how privileged we are attending a private and prestigious college. Some of students in the inner school systems here in Baltimore, along with other troubled urban areas around the nations, may never be able to experience this great gift of education. The Loyola community should take Orr’s advice and invest time into helping the Baltimore community. One person could help change a multi-decade long cancer.

The poem, “In a Station of the Metro” and the short story, “Everyday Use” add to Orr’s lecture. Both works deal with culture as well as separation. “In a Station of the Metro”, even though it takes place in a busy, railroad station, the people are all different and separated. “Everyday Use” fuses family culture and generational differences to create a cohesive and moving story.

Ezra Pound’s, “In a Station of the Metro”, sets the scene of an everyday, train station. People are constantly coming and going in a constant mass. Faces and expression change from person to person. We are a self-centered society and forget about the bigger picture of life. Even though our lives are non-stop, we need to remember where we come from. The foreshadowing by Pound, “…a wet, black bough” (Pound 2) could mean that people are distancing themselves from their culture and community. This can be paralleled to Orr’s lecture. Orr wants the citizens of Baltimore as well as its neighboring community to open their arms. Orr emphasized to the audience to become involved in Baltimore and make a change. I think Pound and Orr we trying to advocate the act of coming back in touch with their roots to aid the present and more importantly the future.

“Everyday Uses” by Alice Walker talked about family culture and heritage. The story is comical as well as lighthearted. Mama, the narrator, lived in a dilapidated house with her daughter Maggie. The two are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mama’s other daughter Dee. When Dee finally returned back home, she is not the same person. With a new name, wardrobe, and vernacular, it is hard to recognize Dee, or Wangero, her new name. The story continues on, with Mama and “Dee” recollecting the past, while Maggie is scared of her older sister. The role of culture comes in when “Dee” inquired about family quilts. She wanted to hang the quilts up in her new house, with her new husband, in her new life. However, Mama had promised the quilts to Maggie. An argument ensues leaving the family frustrated. “Dee” felt that Maggie did not appreciate the quilts. Yet, Mama realized that Maggie is the daughter who has stuck by her and has not changed who she is. The quilts are Maggie’s to keep and “Dee” leaves the house empty-handed. This concept of being true to whom you are and also your upbringing could be found in Orr’s lecture. If you are living here in this city, you should love it, be involved, and embrace this diverse culture.

The two pieces and the lecture are passionately involved with culture. Having self identity and embracing diversity are important life lessons. Fortunately, I was brought up with a strong family as well as education to realize that. Hopefully, children of Baltimore will be able to have this life lesson one day through their education.